Family Law Court Staff Assistant 1

Job Summary

This position works 40 hours per week and provides technical administrative support services to the Family Court Facilitator and Family Law Office.

The position allocated to this class provides technical judicial administrative support services for Superior Court’s Guardianship Monitoring, Family Court Facilitator or Criminal Coordinator Programs. The incumbent provides technical program assistance under the general direction of a Court Coordinator who oversees the assigned program. Duties may include researching and compiling data, developing reports, assisting pro se individuals navigate the court system and assisting in the management of special projects or programs. This classification is distinguished from the Court Staff Assistant 2 classification by work performed in support of a specific Program.

TOTAL COMPENSATION: $61,239 - $85,716 annually. Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer-paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, and leave). The actual total will vary depending upon each employee's enrollment choices.

Examples of Duties

Guardian Monitoring Program:

• Assesses needs and provides information and technical assistance to professional and non-professional guardians.
• Identifies needed forms and documents and assists guardians in complying with statutory requirements, local court rules, court procedures, including meeting reporting requirements and possible consequences for failure to comply.
• Reviews documents prior to filing in the Clerk’s Office.
• Reviews court files and reports completed by volunteers.
• Determines if additional information is needed from the guardian or if the report is ready for Court Commissioner approval or a court hearing is required.
• Assists the Coordinator with recruiting, training and assigning work to volunteers and interns who provide program services.
• Prepares and reviews files to maintain adequate workload for volunteers.
• Assists in the development and distribution of guardianship information packets, brochures, and instructional materials related to responsibilities and court requirements.
• Creates individualized legal documents for Court Commissioners.
• Assists Coordinator in providing public liaison and media relations representation with the public, attorneys, pro se litigants, state agencies, family law staff and the Clerk’s Office.
• Processes court orders including conforming copies, emailing and/or calling people to pick up supporting documents.
• In the absence of the Court Coordinator, performs limited duties for: weekly dockets (compiling, emailing dockets and attending hearings), Court Visitor Registry (assignments, hearing dates and initialing Orders Appointing Court Visitors).
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

• Attends and facilitates in-custody (Jail Video Courtroom) and out of custody (Chief Criminal Courtroom) first appearance, arraignment, Early Case Resolution, and pretrial dockets to schedule hearings and generate orders using computer software on multiple calendars for a variety of appointment types, as ordered by the Court.
• Advises the Court and counsel of related case information.
• Assists judicial officers and their staff with procedural clarification, as needed.
• Monitors pretrial and trial dates in accordance with court rules and legal compliance, including maintaining the scheduling grid in SuperCal.
• Edits, corrects and makes available the grid to the Court and legal counsel, as needed.
• Maintains order in the jail courtroom.
• Tracks and maintains information regarding active felony cases, while monitoring the pending caseload.
• Coordinates transport needs with counsel and defendants to ensure efficiency and fluency of the docket.
• Coordinates, monitors and tracks hearing requirements specific to defendants under medical isolation.
• Provides information and technical assistance to counsel and defendants.
• Assists with the completion of court required documents.
• Ensures documents are picked up and/or delivered to the appropriate source for processing.
• Works with multiple courtrooms and ensures the Judicial Assistant is up to date on any changes that have been made when another department is covering the dockets.
• Assists the coordinator with training of other staff on program processes; attends meetings, drafts and distributes minutes to appropriate parties, as requested or needed.
• Drafts weekly report(s) for the coordinator.
• Maintains and troubleshoots courtroom computer and video equipment, in coordination with the Information Systems Department (ISD).
• Moves and sets up equipment as needed and directed by the coordinator.
• Monitors all criminal cases, specifically those with bonds posted, for purposes of implementing forfeiture procedures and notifying the bond company within statutory and regulatory time frames.
• Advises the Bond Judge and/or other Superior Court judges when defendants fail to appear and prepares forfeiture paperwork when applicable; notifies the Court Coordinator and Bond Judge of the status of bond companies as it relates to payment of forfeitures; communicates with the Prosecutor’s Office regarding forfeiture procedures.
• Researches case status for purposes of filing exoneration of bond paperwork for the Bond Judge’s approval, faxing exonerations to bail bond companies and filing same in court file.
• Coordinates with the County Clerk’s Office relative to monitoring the status of bonds, including the refund of bonds.
• Prepares reports regarding various bond status actions for all criminal cased filed in Superior Court.
• Updates the list of eligible bond companies and their agents as needed throughout the year; monitors the justification of all bond companies annually.
• Transmits court orders regarding bond company suspensions, agent suspensions, forfeitures and other orders to respective parties associated with the operation of bond companies or their agents.
• Responds to requests from prosecutors, public defenders, bond companies, jail staff and other agencies, regarding the status of defendants and their bonds.
• Collaborates with ISD to maximize utilization and enhance the case/bond tracking applications.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

• Acts as an intermediary between the superior court and the public or other clients providing information or policy interpretation regarding a wide variety of sensitive issues requiring the highest degree of tact, judgment and confidentiality. May receive and resolve or refer citizen complaints. Responds to public inquiries in a courteous manner; answers inquiries in person and in written correspondence or may interview people regarding problems or complaints.
• Assesses needs and provides information and technical assistance to pro-se litigants. Identifies needed forms and documents and assists pro-se litigants in complying with statutory requirements, local court rules, court procedures, including meeting reporting requirements and possible consequences for failure to comply. Reviews documents prior to filing in the Clerk’s Office.
• Compiles and schedules weekly court calendars. Prepares court files, attends non-contested dockets, and assists pro-se litigants with court required documents.
• Assists in the development and distribution of pro-se information packets, brochures, and instructional materials related to responsibilities and court requirements.
• Refers litigants to legal assistance, social services, or other community services, as appropriate. Updates and maintains community referral lists for family law related issues, providing instruction and training sources as appropriate.
• Assists pro-se litigants in filing appropriate paperwork, including but not limited to summons and petitions, notice of hearing, declarations, contempt affidavits, general orders, motions, and certificates of service for Dissolution, Parenting Plan, Parentage, Minor Guardianship/Emergency Minor Guardianship, Contempt, Modification of Parenting Plan, Modification of Child Support, Modification of Non-Parental Custody, Temporary Orders, Emergency Temporary Orders, Motion to Vacate, Motion to Terminate/Modify Temporary Orders, Motion for Revision, Motion for Reconsideration actions.
• Educates and/or trains pro-se litigants, members of the public, and other staff members in various petitions, processes, local and state court rules, local policies, requirements, and forms. Assists with questions and paperwork as necessary.

Minimum Requirements

• An Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies, Criminal Justice, Communications, Social Sciences or a related field, AND
• Two years of administrative experience, including one (1) year in a court, judicial or legal setting.
• An equivalent combination of related education, training and/or experience providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.

Selection Factors

• Knowledge of Superior Court rules, practices, procedures, laws and regulations, legal terminology and case processing procedures as they pertain to various aspects of the assigned program.
• Knowledge of research procedures and statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of computer applications and utilization in a court environment.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with judges, attorneys, agencies and the public.
• Ability to prepare and/or assist in the completion and distribution of reports, forms, notices and other court documents accurately, appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to work independently within program parameters and expectations.
• Ability to work quickly, accurately and thoroughly with close attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise careful judgment, diplomacy and tact and perform all tasks with confidentiality
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with persons of diverse ages, social, economic, cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under stressful circumstances.
• Ability to use standard office equipment including, phones, copiers, calculators, fax machines, computer and related software applications.